Ernie Williamson

Ernest Warriner Williamson (September 9, 1922 – March 6, 2002) was an American football player and coach. He play professional as a tacklein the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and New York Giants and in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) for the Los Angeles Dons. Williamson played college football at the University of North Carolina. He served as the head football coach at Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee from 1954 to 1956, compiling a record of 2–22–1.

Ernie Williamson
No. 47
Position:Tackle
Personal information
Born:(1922-09-09)September 9, 1922
Crewe, Virginia
Died:March 6, 2002(2002-03-06) (aged 79)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Career information
High school:Crewe (Crewe, Virginia)
College:North Carolina
NFL Draft:1947 / Round: 10 / Pick: 79
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career NFL statistics
Games played:23
Games started:3
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early life and college career

Williamson was born in Crewe, Virginia and attended Crewe High School. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and became a member of the Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets football team and he played for coach Paul Brown. He served in the South Pacific during World War II.[1]

After attending The Apprentice School in Newport News, Virginia, Williamson attended and played college football at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in 1946. The 1946 North Carolina Tar Heels football team won the Southern Conference title and lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Williamson received an undergraduate degree in 1951 and a master's degree from UNC in 1952, both in physical education.[2]

Professional career

Williamson was drafted in the tenth round of the 1947 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He then played for the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), before a knee-injury ended his playing career.[1]

Coaching and administrative career

In 1952, Williamson was hired as line coach for the football team and head coach for the track team at Sewanee: The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.[3] He served as an assistant football coach for two seasons before succeeding William C. White as head coach of the Sewanee Tigers football in 1954.[4]

In 1957, Williamson returned to the University of North Carolina to head the Educational Foundation, a foundation which raises money for scholarships for student-athletes, which he led for three decades. Williamson received the William R. Davie Award from the UNC Board of Trustees in 1986 to recognize his distinguished service to the University. He also was the recipient of a Priceless Gem from the Department of Athletics in 1982 and a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1997.[1]

Death

Williamson died on March 6, 2002, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after suffering a stroke.[5]

Head coaching record

College football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Sewanee Tigers (NCAA College Division independent) (1954–1956)
1954 Sewanee 0–8
1955 Sewanee 1–8
1956 Sewanee 1–6–1
Sewanee: 2–22–1
Total:2–22–1

References
  1. "Ernie Williamson, longtime Educational Foundation director, dies at 79". UNC University Gazette. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  2. "Ernie Williamson". UNC-The Rams Club. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  3. "Ernie Williamson Named Line Coach at Sewanee". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. June 11, 1952. p. 26. Retrieved November 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  4. "Ernie Williamson Selected Sewanee's Head Grid Coach". Chattanooga Daily Times. Chattanooga, Tennessee. February 23, 1954. p. 11. Retrieved November 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  5. "Ernie Williamson". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. March 9, 2002. p. 9B. Retrieved November 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
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